A Davis County judge is on the ballot for a retention vote. Voters will decide whether Judge Eldred Blaine Rawson keeps his seat on Utah's Second District Court.
Rawson serves Davis, Morgan and Weber counties, according to the Utah State Courts website. He is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady.
Candidate information
- Name: Eldred Blaine Rawson
- Office: Utah Second District Court judge
- Race: Retain Rawson? (nonpartisan retention vote)
- Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
- Appointed: September 2022 by Gov. Spencer J. Cox, filling a vacancy left by the retirement of Judge David R. Hamilton; subject to Senate confirmation, according to the governor's office
- Education: Associate's degree, Ricks College; bachelor's degree, University of Utah (graduated with honors); J.D., University of Utah (1995)
Experience and public service
Before joining the bench, Rawson spent 28 years in private practice focused on complex civil litigation, environmental law and natural resources law, according to the Utah State Courts website. He represented energy and natural resource companies in matters involving crude oil and natural gas pipelines, coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and natural gas compression and treatment plants. He also published articles on Clean Air Act issues, underground storage tank regulation, water rights and other environmental law topics.
Rawson worked at Fabian & Clendenin, Holme Roberts & Owen, and Ray Quinney Nebeker, according to BallotReady.
The Utah State Bar's Energy, Natural Resources, and Environmental Law Section named Rawson its "Lawyer of the Year" in 2017, according to the governor's office. He has also been recognized in Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, Mountain States Super Lawyers and Utah's "Legal Elite" for his work in environmental litigation.
Rawson served as president of the Aldon J. Anderson Inn of Court and as chairperson of the Utah State Bar's Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law Section, according to the Utah State Courts website. He also volunteered with his local Rotary club, served as a legal advisor to a community theatre, coached youth sports and assisted with local school community councils.
At the University of Utah, Rawson competed on the speech and debate team.
In May 2026, Rawson was named among 12 nominees selected by the Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission for two new seats on the expanded Utah Supreme Court, Utah News Dispatch reported. Gov. Cox had 30 days to select appointees from that list, subject to Utah Senate confirmation.
This profile was built from publicly available sources including the Utah State Courts website, the governor's office and BallotReady. No candidate questionnaire responses were available for this race.
